Each trip becomes a discovery, always new, original and extraordinary. And it doesn't matter if the kilometer distances seem infinite or if they are extremely small because the truth is that the world in which we live is full of wonders, near and far, all to be discovered.
And it is precisely in Italy where we want to stay today, to take you to a location a few steps from the Lombard capital. An evocative, romantic and extraordinary building, a local architectural jewel whose shapes and features enchant and surprise, giving us the feeling of being in another place.
His name is Villa Arconatti, also renamed as the small palace of versailles. In this charming and refined place, citizens and travelers from all over the world can spend a few hours of leisure in the name of beauty, art and culture. Let's discover its story together.
The little Italian Versailles
We are located in Bollate, in the province of Milan. This is where we can discover and rediscover a Italian architectural treasure, a historic villa in Groane Park. Villa Arconati, known to the citizens as Castellazzo, is a National Monument and this is not surprising given the grandiose style that characterizes it.
The building, created by Galeazzo Arconati with the aim of creating a country of residence which also housed his art collection is one of the most important examples of Lombard baroque art from the 18th century. His greatness, still visible today as then, has earned him the nickname The little Italian Versailles and in fact the Palace of Versailles, although smaller in size, really resembles it.
But don't be fooled by the adjective "petite" because in reality, Villa Arconati is great. The palace, in fact, extends over an area of more than 10 thousand square meters divided into 70 rooms. According to popular culture, the building would be equipped with 365 windows, like the days of the year. Can you count them all?
Villa Arconati: what to see and what to do
Villa Arconati is located within theGroane Park protected area, about 20 kilometers from Milan. The entire complex is surrounded by farmland and forests that make the environment even more suggestive.
Over the years, this little Versailles has become a place of leisure and wonder where citizens, but also travelers, spend time on out-of-town trips and carefree days just a few steps from Milan.
Walking through the exterior spaces of the villa it is possible to admire the monumental Italian and French garden, where the fountains that enchant with their water games, classical and ancient statues and theaters are preserved. Here nature and art They have coexisted for centuries creating an almost enchanted atmosphere.
Inside the complex it is possible to discover the Two thousand ancient volumes preserved in the Arconati Library, but also all the wonders that characterize the rooms of the building, such as the sumptuous details that belong to the Ballroom. Don't miss the Sala di Fetonte, which houses an extraordinary 18th-century fresco signed by the Galliari brothers.
Villa Arconati is also home to the Augusto Rancilio Foundation, a non-profit organization that, throughout the year, organizes numerous artistic, cultural and educational activities to make the world aware of the immense heritage of the entire complex.
The building It is open every Sunday until December 11, from 11.00:19.00 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. There is no shortage of extraordinary openings for events and demonstrations.
